Architecture by Sharp and Van Rhyn Architects

COTTESLOE

Peter Van Rhyn of Sharp and Van Rhyn Architects (SVR) designed this home in beachside Cottesloe for his family. With two adult children, often away or only staying for short periods of time, four double bedrooms were called for.

The site is a narrow, 550sqm lot situated on the protected side of the primary dune and rising away from the street. This is typical of many Cottesloe streets, with very wide verges and stands of century-old Norfolk Island pine trees forming an impressive street vista.

Important design criteria included taking advantage of the beautiful street and the rear-facing north aspect, together with avoiding the common design solution of a long narrow house with a garage door facing the street.

With these points in mind, Peter decided to extend the budget and place the garage at basement level, thereby opening up the front of the house to the road. All bedrooms were placed upstairs.

To bring light into the centre of the home, a double-volume courtyard/atrium was worked into the design, encapsulated by the roof and adjustable aerofoil aluminium louvres to the west. This provides light to the central stairs, and also allows transparency through the home. The courtyard also creates separation between the ground-level living zone and bedroom zone upstairs.

Simple lines, practical planning and resolved detailing are complemented by materials such as polished concrete floors and natural-finished aluminium joinery. These hard materials are softened with the use of timber in the cabinetry and stairs.

This home has been designed to complement Cottesloe’s casual, ‘beachy’ lifestyle, which is does effortlessly.